12 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



upon an ancient moraine, now situate at least 1 2,000 feet from the 

 glacier." Venetz. 



" The traces of longitudinal (i. e. lateral) moraines are less distinct and 

 frequent ; they are nevertheless readily defined in the lower portion of 

 the vallies of the Rhone, between Martigny and the lake of Geneva, 

 where several occur ranged parallel to each other, at an elevation of 

 1,000 to 1,500 feet above the Rhone." Agassiz. 



** Longitudinal moraines are also very distinct above the baths of 

 Lavey, and the village of Montrey, at the entrance of the valley of 

 Illiers." Agassiz. 



'* Polished rocks are found below the glacier of the Rhone, and above 

 the village of Oberwald." Guyot, 



" In the valley of Oberhasli, the polished surfaces of the rocks can be 

 traced without interruption from the commencement of the glacier to 

 Meiningen." Agassiz. 



*' The rocks which encircle the hospice of Grimsel are polished from 

 top to bottom." Agassiz, 



" The erratic blocks of the Jura are similar to those of the Alps, in 

 being angular." Agassiz. 



Observations on the occurrence of Glaciers. 



** The Pyrenean chain, as also the Sierra Nevada, have glaciers, though 

 they are almost all on the northern slopes ; in the mountains of Nonvay 

 there are several glaciers ; Spitzbergen has its eminences covered with 

 snow, and surrounded by glaciers ; in Iceland the glaciers are numerous 

 and extensive ; Greenland, as far as is known, contains innumerable gla- 

 ciers, many of great thickness." Penny Cyclop. 



*' Along the S. W. coast of South America there are extensive glaciers, 

 as also in the straits of Meagalhaen's and Terra del Fuego." Capt. King. 



"Dr. Geblerin 1833, 1834, 1835, paid much attention to the forma- 

 tion and movement of the glaciers of the Altai mountains, and it is 

 worthy of remark, that his observations coincide with those obtained in 

 the Alps by Saussure and others." Penny Cyclop. 



We have deduced these facts with reference to the former 

 existence of glaciers, in situations which are now no longer 

 exposed to their influence, and of their general distribution 

 in elevated and cold districts, in order to display the funda- 

 mental reasonings of Mons. Agassiz. 



We would proceed further in tracing the origin of erratic 



